During a time where alcohol rights were slowly creeping away, a grocer by the name of David Nicholson had something stirring in the private back room of his St. Louis general store. It was in 1843, when drunk driving first became a penalty, Nicholson begin distilling an original bourbon recipe. Unbeknownst to him, the 1843 recipe he discovered would carry on for centuries.

50 years later, Julian Van Winkle and W.L. Weller started producing 1843 for the St. Louis market. Van Winkle held onto the brand until 2000 when it was acquired by Luxco. The unchanged, unfiltered, and unmatched 1843 is still known for it’s outstanding character that earned its original popularity. It is truly amazing that an unchanged 1843 bourbon recipe could win a double gold in 2015. But, David Nicholson’s did. Today David Nicholson is known for his two bourbon recipes, the 1843 and Reserve.

1843

The 1843 is a 90 proof exceptionally smooth ‘wheated’ bourbon. The dominate characteristics in this bourbon are wood and smoke flavors with subtle vanilla. You will get that nice warm feel all the way down with this one, but that eases up if you add water. Outstanding in a manhattan, the smoky oak notes blend extremely well in a cocktail.

Reserve

This 100 proof, extra-aged and ‘ryed’ bourbon provides a full-bodied flavor and a distinct, spicy taste. The drinking experience of Reserve is extremely pleasurable. A hit of sweetness as it first hits your lips quickly turns to rye and peppery flavors as it goes down. Toffee notes linger allowing you to enjoy even minutes after you’ve taken a sip.

David Nicholson Bourbons have mainly been sold in Missouri and Illinois so there are still many ares in the US that are eagerly waiting to try. This brand has survived almost two centuries and continues to impress.

There is no better way to honor a horse than with a glass of Woodford Reserve and that’s why Woodford Reserve releases a Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle each and every year. For the last 19 years, Woodford Reserve has released an annual limited edition Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle. Most all of these commemorative bottles have featured the work of artists from all over the country.

For the running of the 144th Kentucky Derby race, Woodford Reserve has partnered with Louisville artist Keith Anderson. As the presenting sponsor of the grandest horse race of all time Woodford Reserve celebrates the greatest two minutes in sports. Anderson’s artwork on the 2018 bottle illustrates powerful thoroughbreds breaking through the starting gates in all their glory. Anderson shared, “It has been such an honor to have my artwork considered for this years commemorative Derby bottle and to have my artwork chosen is a dream come true.”

As much as we love the commemorative artwork every year, it’s really what’s inside that makes this bottle so special. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select is a super premium, small-batch bourbon crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region. It is a bourbon of exceptional richness, depth, and character with a smooth, well-rounded finish, much like race itself.

Sip like the Millionaire’s row during the 144th Kentucky Derby, drink Woodford!

New Maker’s Mark Mint Julep coming to Payless this week! The centuries-old “Mint Julep” is a cocktail of bourbon, water, mint, and ice, and most commonly associated with the Kentucky Derby! There have been many variations of the mint julep over the years including the addition of fruit flavors and the difference in bourbon of choice. Maker’s Mark now adds their own variation to the mix!

Maker’s Mark infuses its’ popular Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with mint and a touch of sugar creating a cocktail that’s ready to go. This 33 proof bourbon liqueur just needs ice to enjoy! Nobody does the mint julep quite like Maker’s Mark.

This product is a limited release and we’re not expecting it to last long. We’ve heard and read nothing but positive things about Maker’s Mark Mint Julep. Enjoy over the weekend hanging out in the shade on a sunny day and most definitely, enjoy while watching the Kentucky Derby. Reserve your bottle here with our pick-up form or head over to your nearest Payless Liquors and we will take care of you. Cheers!

You love hanging out downtown with friends, great food, and that clear stuff AKA vodka. But what do you do when it’s the middle of the afternoon and you need to lay low till evening and you’re not too fond of wine? Hangar 1 has the answer you’re looking for.

The genius innovation is rosé vodka. You heard me right. This great refreshing alternative to wine is a mix of a unique blend of Hanger 1 Vodka and California rosé wine. Perfect for drinking with a group of friends in the afternoon and just in time for the sunny days ahead of us!

Hangar 1 works with vineyards and farms to source the grapes and fresh ingredients. Their inspiration for rosé vodka came from the local Golden State wine culture and that’s something they wanted to celebrate. This truly is a first-of-its-kind beverage.

The taste is a bit floral with notes of crisp apple, sweet pea blossoms, and a hint of oak on the nose, with a silky and soft mouthfeel finishing fresh with hints of cranberry. Hangar 1 has provided a few hand-picked recipes here for you to enjoy, including the Rosé Spritzer.

Keep Walking America. Always forward, never backward. That’s been Johnnie Walker’s message for over a century. The iconic striding man logo celebrates taking steps forward and just in time for Women’s History Month, Johnnie Walker is unveiling Jane Walker, the first ever female iteration of the brand’s iconic striding man logo.

Celebrating the many achievements of women, Jane Walker is a symbol of empowerment for all those on the journey to gender equality. The Jane Walker logo and packaging will debut on a special edition offering of the award-winning black label blend.

Johnnie Walker’s Vice President, Stephanie Jacoby worked with the brand on the campaign and shared that, “Scotch as a category is seen as particularly intimidating to women and Jane Walker is a really exciting opportunity to invite women into the brand, which they have played a significant role in since 1893.”

For every Jane Walker bottle purchased, Johnnie Walker will donate $1.00 to organizations supporting women’s progress, up to $250,000. Two organizations Jane Walker supports, in particular, are #MonumentalWomen and She Should Run.

THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR THE OPTIMISTS.THE ONES WHO BREAK BARRIERS AND EMBRACE DIVERSITY.THE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN CHANGE AND REFUSE TO QUIT.THE ONES WHO MAKE AMERICA PROGRESS WITH EVERY STEP THEY TAKE.THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME.KEEP WALKING AMERICA.

From The Crown Royal Blender’s Series, Bourbon Mash has been all the talk around town. This Blended Canadian Whiskey is aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon and new charred American Oak Barrels. The result? A richly layered, perfectly balanced whiskey with the complexity of a bourbon and the signature smoothness of Crown Royal.

This bottle is a great gift for a Crown Royal Collector though. Why? Well if you’re keeping up than you would know that technically, they can’t call this a bourbon. Even though promotional materials clearly stated “This is NOT a bourbon,” the bottle’s label say’s Bourbon and that’s an infringement.

Crown Royal was forced to pull the bottle and re-label it; however, a couple states including Indiana, we’re fortunate enough to receive a shipment of the Crown Royal Bourbon Mash with the original label! Meaning this bottle is a rarity.

Bourbon is a distinctive product of the US and declared by US Congress in 1964 and signed by President Lyndon B Johnson. NAFTA contains a section where Canada agreed to recognize Bourbon Whiskey as a distinctive product of the US. The law states that the word “bourbon” shall not be used to describe any whiskey-based distilled spirits not produced in the United States.

If you’re a Crown Royal collector or just have a thing for the rarities, stop by Payless Liquors and get your bottle of Bourbon Mash before we run out! You can also reserve a bottle here.

Jeptha Creed Distillery was a means to keep the Nethery Farm going, a continuation of their family heritage that’s been going strong since the 1700s. The biggest distilleries in the country were once family-owned enterprises and the only difference between Jeptha Creed and them is that they want to remain a family-owned, authentic enterprise.

The distillery is owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo, Joyce and Autumn Nethery. The family’s 64-acre distillery sits on approximately 1,000 acres of land where they produce almost all the products used to make their spirits. The Nethery family is committed to their ground to glass motto, if they can grow the products themselves, they will. Using only the finest, locally grown and sourced ingredients ensures their products meet the highest expectations for quality and flavor.

Not only do they produce their own corn and fruits, they use old-fashioned methods to meet today’s demanding modern tastes. “Ne Oublie” is a Scottish Gaelic saying meaning “Never Forget”. Much like their use of old-fashioned methods, this phrase has been passed down through the Nethery family for generations. Jeptha Creed was founded on the motto “Don’t forget where you came from,” and they hold true to that to this day.

The distillery currently has their Vodka and Moonshine on the market and their bourbon is aging and will be available in 2019! Unfortunately, Jeptha Creed spirits are not available in Indianapolis, but they will be available to taste at Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration on February 23, 2018. Get your tickets here!

There aren’t many spirits as unique as this one. Henry McKenna is the longest aged, bottled-in-bond, single barrel bourbon out there to date! It all started when Henry McKenna, an Irish immigrant, adapted his family’s traditional recipe to work with the grains he found in Kentucky around 1837. The result? A PERFECTLY balanced bourbon.

The mash bill of this product is 75% corn, 13% Rye and 12% malted barley.This 10-year-old single barrel bourbon has won numerous awards and accolades including Double Gold in the 2014 WSWA Spirits Tasting Competition. As well as, Double Gold in the 2015 SF Spirits Competition and Gold in the 2016 World Whiskey Awards.

To be considered a Bottled-in-Bond whiskey must be a product of one distillation season and one distiller at a single distillery. The product must also be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under the supervision of the government for at least four years, and it must be bottled at exactly 100 proof. Additionally, the bottled-in-bond label must clearly identify the distillery where it was distilled and where it was bottled.

Interested in attending Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration but wish there would be wine?! Well, you’re in luck! We’ve been receiving quite a few questions regarding wine and we’re here to clear things up.

There will be wine poured at the event. There will be bourbon barrel-aged wines to compare with their non-barrel aged equivalent. Who knows, you might discover that you prefer barrel-aged wines! This will give you a chance to understand more about the kinds of wines you enjoy.

Bourbon barrel-aged wine has soared in popularity since its official inception in 2014 and many brands have hopped in on the trend. This isn’t quite the first time that winemakers have used bourbon barrels in winemaking, however. Modern bourbon barrel winemaking is all about boosting flavor and richness. “When we use bourbon barrels to finish a portion of the wine, we introduce a different, more intense set of aromas and flavors that would be less pronounced in traditional wine barrels.”

At the event we will have (among others):

Apothic Inferno Bourbon Barrel Aged

Apothic Red

Apothic Dark

Federalist Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel

Federalist 1776 Series Zinfandel

Federalist 1776 Series Chardonnay

Join us for an extraordinary night of bourbon tasting and learn more about the fine art and nuances of distilling and more. Check out our working list of distilleries attending Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration and Get your tickets here.

Peggy Noe Stevens has achieved no small feat. Bridging the gap for women in a gentleman’s world of bourbon, she has worked her way up as the first female master bourbon taster in the world, the founder of Bourbon Women’s Association and first and foremost, an expert in hospitality and global marketing.

You hear these titles, but do you know what it takes to get there? How does one become a master bourbon taster? It requires more than just a taste for bourbon. One has to be able to recognize the little nuances between brands, identify precise proofs, hundreds and hundreds of different flavors, and of course, defects. Her taste palate is just one touch point on a list of impressive achievements.

Peggy founded the Bourbon Women’s Association. This membership group was designed for educational, networking, and charitable purposes that strive to preserve the heritage that surrounds the making and responsible enjoyment of bourbon. She noticed that among her friends, many have a genuine interest in bourbon and she made it possible for women in 22 states, Canada and Australia to explore their interest and connect with like-minded women. Read Peggy’s full biography here.

We’re extremely excited to have Peggy Noe Stevens join the Indiana Historical Society and us at Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration in February. Join us for an extraordinary night of bourbon tasting and learn more about the fine art and nuances of distilling and more. Check out our working list of distilleries attending Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration below and Get your tickets here.

Spirits can be more complicated than one thinks. Think your an expert on all thing Bourbon and Whisky? You might be mistaken. When it comes to the history and ability to understand and articulate the vast range of flavors in an array of different spirits, you have to be more than an expert. You have to live spirits and that’s just what Fred Minnick does.

He is a storyteller, and the history of American spirits has many, many stories to tell. Bourbon, in particular, is embedded into American history. The families names that helped create that history are the same families whose names down the labels of the bourbons we drink, and who make up the pages of the books that Fred writes, and we enjoy. Fred a gifted writer who loves to tell the stories and the history behind the spirits we drink, and he just so happens to also have an an impeccable palate (& eye), who through his words can allow you to experience what he is experiencing, and allow you to feel like you just shared the experience with him.

Fred is a Wall-Street Journal Best Selling Author. He has written Bourbon Women, Bourbon Curious, Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whisky and Rum Curious. But wait, there’s more! Fred writes for Covey Rise, Whisky Advocate and Whisky Magazine. He is also the Bourbon Authority for the Kentucky Derby Museum and he regularly appears on CBS This Morning, Esquire, Forbes, and NPR.

We’re extremely excited to have Fred Minnick join the Indiana Historical Society and us at Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration in February. Join us for an extraordinary night of bourbon tasting and learn more about the fine art and nuances of distilling and more. Get your tickets here. Samplings and silent auction end at 9:30 p.m.